Reassessing India’s Bt Cotton Journey

India adopted Bt cotton in 2002 with hopes of transforming its pest-ravaged, low-yield cotton sector. At first, the technology appeared revolutionary-cotton yields increased, bollworm-related pesticide use dropped, and India rapidly rose to become the world's top cotton producer and exporter. By 2014, more than 90% of India's cotton acreage was planted with Bt hybrids, reflecting enthusiastic farmer adoption.

- DR M S BASU

The early promise of Bt cotton has not endured. Over the past decade, yields have stagnated at around 500 kg/ha—far below the global average of 2,000 kg/ha. Even more concerning are the emerging ecological and socioeconomic costs. Secondary pests like whiteflies and mealybugs, previously considered minor, have proliferated, necessitating renewed pesticide applications. Meanwhile, bollworms have begun developing resistance to Bt toxins, undermining the core rationale behind the technology.

Perhaps the gravest—and least discussed—consequence has been the erosion of India's indigenous cotton biodiversity. India was once home to a wide range of native varieties—many of them drought-tolerant, pest-resilient, and well-suited to local agro-climatic conditions. With the spread of Bt cotton, most of these traditional cultivars have disappeared from the fields.

Bt cotton's dominance, largely in hybrid form, has also disrupted the seed economy. Farmers can no longer save seeds for the next crop, leading to annual seed purchases and growing dependence on corporate suppliers. This has been especially detrimental to smallholders in rainfed areas, where Bt hybrids tend to underperform due to their higher water and input needs.

Furthermore, Bt cotton is not compatible with organic or low-input systems. India, once a hub of desi cotton varieties with distinct fiber qualities, now struggles to participate in premium global segments like organic and extra-long staple cotton—areas increasingly led by Egypt, Peru, and China.

From a policy lens, India's regulatory focus has been narrowly aimed at short-term yield improvements, with insufficient attention to ecological sustainability, seed sovereignty, and long-term agro-biodiversity. Weak post-approval monitoring and lax biosafety enforcement have compounded the problems.

Net Assessment of Bt Cotton in India (2002–Present)

Short-Term Gains: